A judge said “mayhem” erupted when a garda was used a human shield from a hatchet wielding 16-year old.

Victim Martin Doherty dragged Garda Martin O’Brien between him and his attacker but he was still slashed 11 times in the face and back with a knife in October last year.

The incident, which happened at the Maid of Erin roundabout in Ennis, Co Clare, was part of the McDonagh/Doherty Traveller feud.

At Ennis Circuit Court in Clare yesterday, Judge Gerald Keyes said: “I want to try to understand why people would act in such a way and absolutely cause mayhem, exposing gardai and the public to danger and result in very serious injury to one of the Doherty family.”

Judge Keyes said Bernard McDonagh Snr had previously lost a finger when he was attacked with a machete as he collected his children from a primary school in 2010.

Last October’s incident was sparked by the 46-yearold ramming three cars – including a Garda patrol car – as a boy of 10 sat in the back of his car.

Det Garda John Casey said McDonagh Snr drove around the roundabout 10 times against traffic before ramming his car at a stationary Garda patrol car and at officers.

In a victim impact statement Garda Marie Burke said she suffered post traumatic stress disorder and her life has been turned upside down. She added: “It was my belief I was going to be seriously or fatally injured.”

Det Garda Casey said McDonagh had earlier rammed a Hiace van containing three members of the Doherty family and a car driven by a woman.

Minutes after McDonagh’s arrest, his son Bernie McDonagh Jnr, 20, brother Christopher, 37, and a 16-year old arrived in a van that broke a cordon.

They were armed with a knife, an iron bar and a hatchet to attack the Dohertys, who were standing on the footpath beside the Garda patrol car.

Det Casey said the three ran across the roundabout and as the 16-year-old armed with the hatchet approached Martin Doherty, Doherty grabbed Garda Martin O’Brien to use him as “a shield”.

The teen was arrested at the scene.

State counsel, Stephen Coughlan BL said: “Bernie McDonagh Jnr took advantage of the confusion to launch the attack on John Doherty.”